Spot's First Easter

In town today there are a number of Easter displays but pride of place must go to 'Spot's First Easter' at the Book Store

Couldrey Colours

This painting by Oswald Couldrey was done in the late 1930s and shows children coming out of Carswell School in Conduit Road (from a postcard Copyright Abingdon Town Council).

The school recently had £1 million spent on it to provide new classrooms, an ICT suite, and an all weather pitch (Carswell School is the only school in Abingdon without a grass playing field and so desparately needed this). As you can see the nursery area is very colourful. Oswald would have approved.

Waitrose

At the exit from Waitrose there is a large ball made from polished stone. It sits in a hollow and can be pushed on a film of water. Back in 1993, when the superstore was first built, this was the entrance and exit area. Our children were small then and we could play with it.

Last year Waitrose built this separate entrance, and expanded the store.

With Waitrose, one pays for the privilege of a more relaxed shop with slightly higher prices than Tesco. There are a good selection of recipe cards around the store to tempt you to try new ingredients. "Spicy Thai Noodles with Quorn, Chilli and Lemon Grass - Celebrate Thai New Year with this meat-free aromatic dish."

Waitrose is built where the railway once ran, and the railway still shapes the area.

It is the largest shop in the Town Centre, and with its long carpark has entrances at Abbey Close and Audlett Drive. Here you get 90 minutes free parking so long as you shop. It used to be 2 hours.

Chocolate and easter bunnies are always worth a picture.

Busy Bee Noticeboard

Abingdon School have good contacts and pulling power. Not only did they host Any Questions, but also this Friday they host a Cricket Match with Lord's Tavenors.

Looking further on the noticeboard of the Busy Bee newsagent are "Bath Lift £200"

and Whist Drive.

Weir Falling

Weir falling, weir falling
falling down towards the sea
Weir falling, weir falling
foaming water, weir free

Can you hear it, can you hear it
crashing down, every day
never trying, never lieing,
never dieing, who can say.

Weir falling, weir falling
falling down towards the sea
Weir falling, weir falling
foaming water, weir free

Half a Sixpence

Abingdon Operatic Society are currently performing this musical made famous by the film starring Tommy Steel. It is at the Amey Theatre, Abingdon School from today until Saturday 8th April. The sixpence is a broken token of love, one half held by the lad who goes from rags to riches, and the other half by his girl who stays poor. Will they get together again?

Abingdon Traditional Morris Dancers

There was a visit today from cameramen, a soundman, and a presenter from a BBC2 culture program to film the Abingdon Traditional Morris Dancers.

This well known Abingdonian has taken on the part of "The fool".

Two other well known members of the Morris men are the current "Mayor" of Ock Street - the name given to their leader, and his predecessor for many years - and still dancing into his eighties.

The "Mayor" is elected by the inhabitants of Ock Street.

The final picture from beneath the County Hall, this lunchtime, shows the Mayor of Abingdon, and one of the Freemen of Abingdon - there are three Freemen.